Sarasota Dreams Read Online Free PDF

laugh.”
    “Neh, I’d never be bored with her, that’s for sure.”
    “So, does she like you, too?”
    “Ya, I can see it in her eyes, but she doesn’t know it yet. She keeps trying to put me in my place, but that won’t work with me.”
    “Looks to me like it’s working.” David had turned the music down on his radio, but the sound of the bass still thumped through the van. He tapped his steering wheel in time to the music as Abe thought about what David had said.
    “How you figure?” Abe finally asked.
    “Figure what? That whatever she’s doing is working on you?”
    “Ya.”
    “You keep coming back for more.”
    Abe scrunched his face. “Never thought about it that way.”
    “You don’t have much experience with women, do you?”
    “Neh, I’ve spent most of my life studying and learning about the farm.”
    David nodded. “That’s what I figured. You’re a smart man, Abe. If you ever want some pointers, I’ll be glad to give you some.”
    “No offense to you, David, but I’ll try to figure her out on my own. You never met anyone like Mary Penner.”
    “I’m sure. If she’s got you all worked up, she must be quite a woman.”
    Abe folded his arms and tucked his hands under his arms as he snickered. “That’s one way to describe her.”
    Mary Penner was a smart girl. After she settled down and accepted the Mennonite ways, she was one of the best students in class. In their last year of high school, he’d asked her if she was going to college. As she shook her head no and replied that her grandparents wanted her to help with their restaurant, he could see her sadness. Mary could have done whatever she wanted, but she was loyal to the people who had taken her in. Abe admired and respected her even more for that.
    As David turned the corner, Abe caught sight of Mary standing outside the restaurant. His pulse pounded through his body, and a lump formed in his throat.
    “Is that her?”
    “Ya.” He unfolded his arms and gripped the armrest.
    “Don’t be nervous, man. When a woman waits for a man, it means she likes him.”
    Abe nodded. “That is what I’m thinking. Now I need to find a way to make her see that.” He cleared his throat. “Can you slow down a bit?”
    David snorted. “Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine. Want me to pick the two of you up later?” He pulled to a stop about ten feet from the curb where Mary stood.
    “Can you wait here? We want to go to the beach, and I think we might need a ride.”
    “Okay.” David gestured toward Mary. “You better go, or you might lose her before you have her. I’ll be right here.”
    Abe got out and strode over to Mary, who quickly glanced away. “Been waiting long?”
    She turned back to face him, her face flushed and her hands in a tight clasp in front of her. “Yup. Too long. What were you and that man talking about?”
    “That’s David. He’s one of the folks who picks up some of the farmers when we need to come to town. He wanted to know when to pick us up.”
    She tilted her head and smirked. “Is that all?”
    “I don’t know.” Abe rubbed the back of his neck with one hand and extended the other hand toward the van. “Come on, Mary. David can take us to the beach.”
    She hesitated. “I don’t know David.”
    “But I do. The beach is too far to walk.”
    “I generally ride a bus that has a route and other people.”
    “I’ve been using David as a driver for a long time, and I trust him.” He gave her the best assuring look he could. “Why would we ride the bus when David’s right here?” Abe glanced over his shoulder and saw the amused expression on David’s face. He didn’t know what to do, so he just stood there, looking back and forth between Mary and David.
    “Oh all right,” Mary finally said as she forged ahead toward the van. “I’ll have you to protect me if anything happens.”
    Abe opened the door for Mary; then he climbed in after her. “Mary, this is my friend David.”
    “Nice to